Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles
When we think of any action we might take in life, that is a key questions we should ask ourselves, what would Jesus do? When it comes to where we should find ourselves and who we should associate with, I would ask what “did” Jesus do. A study of the New Testament reveals that Jesus related to everyone. He had a close group of friends, His disciples. He taught to large crowds that certainly had people from all walks of life and persuasions. He was highly criticized by the leaders of the church because He sat down and ate with tax collectors and prostitutes.
Why didn’t Jesus just hang out with those that were receiving His message? Jesus didn’t come to start a club, He came to save the lost. A doctor doesn’t visit the well, he visit the sick. I know we are not Jesus, be He called us to become more like Himself. That begs the question, are we to go out into the world and try to help the very worst in our society? Yes. We cannot hope to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world if we run away from the lost. We are not of this world, but we are definitely in it. How can we protect ourselves from all that is lost about this world while getting so close to it? May I offer a few suggestions;
1. Stay in the Word. Reading of the scripture equips us with faith, wisdom, and His knowledge so that we can know what He did, and what we must do, to reach out to a lost world. The perfect example of how to reach out and share His love was modeled by Him for us.
2. Always remember that; John 3:16-17 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. We will never reach those hurting and lost by condemnation. Jesus loved them to himself, we must do the same.
3. Have a refuge of fellowship for your own protection. I’ve often heard Christians say, I believer but I don’t go to church. Seeking and maintaining fellowship with other believers is your life line to what are your core beliefs. Out in the world attempting to reach the lost, you will need the support, prayer, and comfort of those that join you in that effort to find and present God’s love to those most in need.
5. We must, again, become like little children, and have an unquestioning faith in our Saviour.
It is our mission as those saved by His grace, compassion, and love to reach out to a world in need and offer the same.
the pilgrim
* Portrait of Jesus by a child, from the book Jesus in Art.
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This entry was posted on Friday, September 30th, 2011 at 11:03 am
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Not all change is bad. Every October, across the world the summer greens turn to autumn hues of red, yellow, and gold, the display is stunning and one of the things we love to photograph the most! Hot summer days turn to cool ones as the summer ends. The older I get the more I like spring and fall and the less I like the extremes of summer and winter. However the balance between the seasons is important. I think change is good. I would not like to live in a place that was always summer, or alway winter.
In God’s wisdom He knows a life also has to have ups and downs. It is this natural cycle of life that gives meaning to times of peace and joy. If we never faced difficulty we would have no perspective on great blessings. Even though there is a natural oscillation in life, God does not want us to live under the burden of difficulty. He has given us an alternative, Trust and Faith. When we allow God to take control we learn, over time, that He is not only faithful, He also will bring good out of the difficult moments as well. Sadly we do not learn from the time when we have no challenges, we learn when we must rely on Him. God does not want to see us suffer, but He knows that if we do not grow strong in our reliance on Him we will suffer even worse. I’ve often said, as bad as my two cancer experiences were, they were great times of revelation and growth. I would not wish either of them away, they brought me too much of value.
A common prayer is, “God make this challenge go away!” Maybe it should be, “God help me to learn from this difficult time and bring me out stronger and closer to you……..”
It’s our choice, but God stand ready to help us make the most of every circumstance.
the pilgrim
*Photo Note: Grandfather Mountain, F100 film camera, Velvia, 80-200 f2.8 lens.
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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 29th, 2011 at 11:51 am
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What a joy to go out for Nikon and share photography with and enthusiastic audience of your peers! The Southern Appalachian Nature Photographers Association is such a group. I’ve been a member of this group for a number of years and always love to get down and visit with them. The group is comprised of mostly serious nature photographers, but their range of interest is broader than that, more than anything they really love photography and this is the kind of group I love to share with. People that genuinely love to make images are so much fun to relate to. Having been bitten by the bug for over 42 years, I was right at home. Part of my job at Nikon is to go out and crete excitement about photography. Nikon has had a very long standing leader in the eduction area of photography with the famous Nikon School, the Nikon Digital School and the new Nikon Digital Video School. I’n glad to work for a company that see the value i n keeping the flame of enthusiasm burning.
I’m also thrilled to get to see old friends in the field and three long standing friends were with me last night, Kendall Chiles, Bill Campbell, and Bill Lea, all great shooters and long time friends. This brings me to the praise moment, God is so good! What a treasure to spend my life talking about the my avocation, photography, and my Lord. The scripture says “if we seek Him first He will add provide all our needs, even the desires of our heart.” Does that really work? Follow me around!!!!!!!
Praises and blessings,
the pilgrim
Great sign at Calhoun’s will definitely migrate over to the Cheeseburger In Paradise!
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
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This mornings devotional was a wonderful reminder of the vital importance of obedience. The scripture below tells a wonderful story of obedience and it’s wonderful result.
Luke 5:1-7
The First Disciples
1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon,its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
Simon Peter was tired, he had fished all day, and caught nothing. Then this man came along and asked him to let him teach from his boat, even move it further out in the water. Peter was busy washing his nets, but he said “Yes”. The result is that many were fed spiritually. Then Jesus turned to Peter and said go back out and lower your nets again. Peter was pretty sure this was not such a good idea, after all he had fished all day and has had no success. In spite of his doubts, Peter and his crew went back out and cast their nets, again. The scripture above reveals the result, they caught so many fish that their nets began to tear.
What does this have to do with us today? If you are in communication with God through prayer and through an active attempt to listen in you spirit for Him, He will speak to you. He will reveal what He wants you to do. Obedience is nothing more than saying, “Yes” when He calls. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes a lot harder, but it never comes back void! God has a plan and He wants you to get to be a part of it. Could He do it without you? Of course, but then you would miss His incredible blessings, and He doesn’t want that to happen.
Listen for His voice, and say “Yes Father!” It will lead to incomparable joy and blessings…….
the pilgrim
*Photo Note: D7000, 24-120 AF-S VR lens Sponge boat in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
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